BBC Launches iPlayer For Kids

For sure, the new multi-platform iPlayer client is pretty exciting for us grown-ups, but what if you’re aged 6-12? Well, if you are then the new CBBC-flavoured iPlayer website sub-section might well be of more interest.

Born of the BBC’s desire to offer an appropriate level of differentiation between childrens’ and adults’ programmes, the CBBC iPlayer site is more than just a re-skin of the ‘normal’ site with a funky new design. The CBBC iPlayer prioritises visual, rather than text-driven navigation and, importantly, contains no adult content.

The merit of that is twofold. First, it means that kids won’t be annoyed when parents are savvy enough to block adult content and said kids try to watch it. Second, it means that on both the main iPlayer and CBBC iPlayer site sections, promoted content, such “most watched” shows and featured programmes, will be better suited to their intended audiences.

Most significantly, though, if the slogan on the main iPlayer homepage is to be believed, the CBBC iPlayer is “well better than socks!” How can you argue with that?